A freezer is one of the most valuable pieces of kitchen equipment if you want to eat healthy on a budget.

It allows you to save time and money by embracing batch cooking and preparing meals ahead of time. Plus, it means you'll shop more cost-effectively by buying frozen instead of fresh. 

However, all of these advantages rely on effective freezer organisation. And unfortunately, as we all know, it's all too easy to put things in the freezer and forget about them! 

So we're breaking down the best ways to store food and save space while you're at it.

What is the best way to organise an upright freezer?

The best way to keep your freezer in order (and maintain it for the long haul!) is to use different areas for specific types of food. Of course, every household is unique and will work with different food items. But the following breakdown is a good rule of thumb to follow. 

The freezer drawer

Designate different drawers to store different categories of foods, rather than tossing everything in willy nilly. 

• Put meat or poultry in the bottom drawer to avoid juices dripping onto other foods or risk spreading harmful bacteria around your freezer, putting your family at risk. 
• Put frozen fish and seafood like salmon, snapper or prawns in the drawer above.

The freezer shelf

Open shelves are best used for storing containers of batch-cooked meals, frozen soups or stews and pre-prepared sauces. Flat-packed ready meals like pizzas also do well on the shelf because you can stack them neatly side by side, in containers, or on top of one another.

The freezer door

The freezer door is not only the warmest place in the freezer; it also has the biggest temperature fluctuations. Anything stored here will run the risk of melting, refreezing and suffering freezer burn.

Whatever you do, then, don't store ice cream here! Instead, reserve the door for every New Zealanders favourite—coffee (yes, beans or ground coffee are best stored in the freezer!)—or nuts and liquor.

Here are more freezer organisation ideas to use!

7 fabulous freezer organisation hacks

There are plenty of other ways to ensure your freezer stays neat and tidy and maximise space — and they're worth taking the extra time to do. They will prevent food waste or spoilage and ensure you’re making the most of the food (and space) that you've got!

1. Label your food

Let's be honest. It can be tough to see what homemade meals are -- and soups, stews, curries or different types of preprepared meats can all end up looking the same when frozen! So, labelling your food will make your life a lot easier when it comes time to eat.

Always make it clear on your labels whether the food is raw or cooked and include the date that food was frozen. That way, you'll know what needs to be eaten first - helping you manage your fridge inventory.

2. Keep a checklist on your freezer door (and maintain it)

Keeping track of your food and knowing what you've got to hand is essential to prevent waste and over-shopping.

It's all too easy to forget you made that lasagna and order Uber Eats instead, or to buy those frozen prawns twice because they were out of sight in a freezer drawer!

To avoid this, stick a checklist on your freezer door. List everything you've got inside the freezer, add to it as you buy or freeze additional items on a regular basis, and tick off used items once they're gone.

3. Portion out food before you freeze it

Batch cooking and prepping meals ahead of time (like these healthy homemade takeaways) is a great cost-effective idea.  For maximum efficiency, these make-ahead meals should be separated into small quantities and usable portions once cooled and before freezing.  This makes it much easier when it comes time to defrost, and prevents wastage.

Yes, freezing big portions is a good option if you have a large family. But generally, dividing food up into individual or usable portions will prevent any food waste when it comes to defrosting.

4. Flat pack to maximise space

Every time you add something like leftovers to the freezer, put them in a freezer bag, seal it, and lay the bag flat in the freezer until it's frozen.

Freezing stuff flat is a great space-saving technique, because makes it easy to stack items on top of one another or upright in boxes. Then, if you're extra keen on saving space, you can take things up a notch and vacuum pack all your pre-cooked meals with a vacuum sealer.

5. Seal your frozen foods tightly

Air circulating around frozen foods can lead to freezer burn (and a lot less appetising meals). So your best bet is to find a container as close to the size of what you want to freeze as possible.

If you're using plastic bags, make sure you press out as much air as possible before freezing.

Doing these things means you maximise freezer space and keep air out, keeping food waste to a minimum and ensuring your food still tastes great when it comes to dinner time.

6. Store your meats correctly

Meats such as steaks and chicken pieces often come from the supermarket in trays that take up lots of extra space. So, repack them into freezer bags and freeze them in a flat layer. (Make sure you label them!)

Then, if you're being really organised, stack your meat in a drawer or container with the oldest meat on top/at the front, so you know what to use first.

7. Use containers to keep your shelves organised

Vast open space is not a recipe for easy, organised storage — which is where containers come in handy!

• Plastic boxes or magazine holders work great for organising flat-packed foods like sauces. Using them will make it easier to see what you have - you can store vertically and flick through like a CD tack - and you won't create a mess every time you remove a bag! 
• Milk cartons can be an excellent option for frozen veggies. Decant small frozen veg, like garden peas, corn and vegetable mix from their bags into the washed, clean milk cartons.When it comes time to cook, simply open the cap and pour into whatever you're making! Cartons are neater to store than bulky bags, stop loose veggies from spilling all over the freezer, and they're also a breeze to use.

How do I organise a chest freezer?

It's even easier to lose track of what you've stored in a chest freezer than an upright one! 

However, all you need to do is buy a few plastic baskets and separate your frozen foods into categories—such as ready or pre-prepared meals, frozen meat, fruit and vegetables.  That way, you'll know exactly which section to go to when you're rummaging around looking for a snack or getting ready to cook up a meal ! 

Don’t stop there! Now you’re on a roll, click here to find out how to organise your fridge.